Insurance | Personal Lines | Identity Recovery Insurance
Indentity Theft Protection Tips
Social Security Tips
Minimize the risk of a thief obtaining your social security number be following these simple tips:
- Don't carry your Social Security card in your wallet/purse.
- Don’t pre-print your Social Security number or telephone number on your checks.
- In addition to not carrying your Social Security card with you or printing it on your personal checks, many states no longer require that your Social Security number be your Driver's License. If this is the case in your state, be sure to have your license number changed. Not all states will do this; however, there are states that give you an option. Check with your Department of Motor Vehicles.
- Avoid carrying cards with you that have your Social Security number on them, such as health insurance cards.
- When asked to provide your Social Security number, ask the individual why it is needed and how it will be used.
- Don’t post your Social Security number in e-mails or chat rooms.
- When applying for an account online, make sure that the site is secure.
- Read the privacy policy of any Web site where you provide personal information. This policy will outline how the organization will use this information.
Bank Protection
Protect your bank account by following these rules:
- Monitor bank statements. Monitor your account statements monthly to ensure they arrive at the scheduled time and contain no discrepancies. You may even want to monitor your bank account more frequently online.
- Keep items that contain your personal information, such as bank statements, credit card statements or medical records in a safe place.
Credit Card and ATM Tips
Avoid credit card fraud and identity theft by carefully watching your credit cards.
- Put passwords on all your accounts and don’t use your mother’s maiden name — make up a fictitious word.
- Request credit cards and bank cards with your picture on them.
- Close all inactive accounts.
- Don’t use an obvious number, such as your birthday or the last four digits of your Social Security number, as your PIN.
- Sign all new cards immediately.
- Report lost or stolen cards immediately.
- When traveling, use your cell phone while sitting in airports, train stations, or while on the streets. If you do not have a cell phone and must use a credit or calling card at a public phone, purchase a prepaid calling card. Many thieves will watch you from a distance and steal your credit card number as you enter it on the keypad. They can then charge hundreds or thousands of dollars to your card before your bank or you realize what happened.
- While shopping, use a credit or debit card instead of checks because they contain less information about you. With credit cards, your liability for unauthorized use is limited by law to $50.
- When getting money from an ATM, be on the look out for “shoulder surfers.” These are people who look over your shoulder when you enter your PIN number. To protect yourself, stand directly in front of the machine and cover the number pad with your hand when entering the PIN. Keep an eye out for anyone suspicious.
Electronic Protection
Online transactions are a great way for thieves to get your personal information. Take the necessary precautions to protect yourself.
- Don’t provide personal information on any Web site unless you are certain that it is a secure site.
- When entering personal information online, even on well-known Web sites, watch for signs that you've been redirected to a "cloned" replica site where your data can be captured without your knowledge. Such signs include odd error messages, unexpected page design or content, or other strange site behavior.
- Never open spam and other e-mail from unknown sources — it may contain viruses or other programs that make your computer vulnerable to intrusion.
- If you receive an email from a financial institution — even your own bank — never provide personal or account data. It’s always best to contact your bank directly and provide information in person or over the phone.
- Install a firewall on your home computer to keep hackers out — especially if you connect to the Internet by DSL or cable modem. Install virus protection and keep it updated.
- Before disposing of a computer or hard drive, remove personal information data using a strong "wipe" utility program. Do not rely on the "delete" function to remove files containing sensitive information.
- Always store personal files and data securely in your home.
Mail Tips
Thieves can get your personal information right outside your front door. Protect your personal information by following these simple steps.
- Be careful of “dumpster driving,” or individuals who search through dumpsters to obtain discarded credit card offers, bank statements or other important financial information.
- Purchase a shredder. Shred all documents with personal information before throwing them away such as bank statements, credit card statements, offers and receipts containing your credit card number on them.
- Do not send mail using your unsecured mailbox. If you have payments to send, mail them at your local post office.
- Have your personal checks delivered to your bank, not your home address.
- As a general rule, do not give money or personal information to those who solicit directly to you by mail or phone. When telephoned, always ask for the name of the organization, the name of the individual on the phone, and a call-back number. If they are legitimate, they will readily provide this information.
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